An embossed gilt copper alloy plaque of Bodhisattva Mañjughośa, Qianlong six character mark and period, 18th Century.
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In his right hand he has a sword and in his left hand a book, attributes of Manjusri, the Bodhisattva of wisdom. The arrow and bow symbolizes the means and method, by which to achieve enlightenment.
This presentation of Caturbhuja-Nāmasamgīti-Mañjughośa is number eleven in a series of thirteen different forms of Manjusri, with whom the Manchu Emperors were closely linked. The series is part of a larger collection of 360 Buddhist saints and deities, made on Imperial demand, and compiled by the Chief Administrative Lama in Beijing, the third lChang skya Rol-pavi rdo-rje (1716-1786 ).
On May 26, 1749 the imperial workshops in Beijing was commanded to produce metal molds for the production of clay plaques (Tib. tsa tsa) with the series as a model. A large number of such plaques are today preserved in the Forbidden City, but also in private collections and museums. There also occur plaques in metal, as is the case here. Many of the original molds were presumably lost in the great palace fire in the Forbidden City, 1923. In the Sven Hedin Collections at the Museum of Ethnography in Stockholm, there are about 80 extant forms, all of which bears clear traces of fire.
The back inscribed with characters, stating that the plaque was "made with reverence during the Qianlong reign of the great Qing". The name of the Bodhisattva is given in the four official languages: Chinese, Mongolian, Manchu and Tibetan.
Height 8,5 cm.
Wear. Part of base-plate missing.
Saleroom notice
Numbering to base ("eleven"). Part of base-plate missing.
Provenance
The Oldertz Collection. Purchased at Sothebys, London, October 21st 1994, Lot no 142.
The Oldertz Collection. Carl Oldertz (1924-2006), was a M.D.h.c. and a Director of a Swedish Insurance Company, Stockholm.
Carl was a passionate collector, who built his collection over the decades. In the 1970’s he started to focus his interest in objects from Asia, mainly Chinese Antiques and Works of Art. He was very much an academic collector who strived to acquire pieces from different epoques and constantly sought after more knowledge about the pieces, the techniques and their history. His broad interest in Chinese culture and history together with his curiosity led him to visit many private collections and museums around the world.
Literature
Eulogies to he Sacred images of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
More information
Bukowskis would like to thank Karl Gunnar Gardell for help identifying and cataloging the plaque.